Karl Anderson successfully retained his NJPW NEVER Openweight Championship against Hikuleo on December 14 at the 2022 World Tag League and SUPER Jr. Tag League finals. After this successful defense, Anderson put his name on the line at Wrestle Kingdom 17. After Anderson’s victory over Hikuleo, Tama Tonga challenged him for the name, and the two found themselves fighting, as they had been rivals for some time. The match ended with Anderson showing Tonga with a Gun Stun.
Tonga and Anderson’s history dates back to Impact Wrestling’s No Surrender event in early 2022, when Tonga and Tanga Loa, a tag team known as Guerrillas of Destiny, faced the Good Brothers for the Impact World Tag Team Championship. Prior to the meeting, G. O. D. were members of the Bullet Club and had been for years; However, this replaced the fight. Jay White accused G. O. D. su name fit and, in the process, expelled both men from the Bullet Club. By expelling GOD, the Good Brothers became the new members of the Bullet Club, it was their time in the faction. WWE Now, Anderson and Luke Gallows are still active members of the Bullet Club.
By protecting the NEVER Openweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 17, Anderson made history by placing the first skill under contract with WWE to compete in a Wrestle Kingdom event. This cooperation stems from Anderson’s wrestling at WWE Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia on November 5, which prevented him from protecting his planned name at NJPW Battle Autumn.